Punching and Kicking

Yesterday was the first time I felt punching & kicking movements! I felt them at the same time - but I'm not sure what was the punch, and what was the kick. At first I felt it in my upper right abdomen - like someone trying to beat down a door! Then I felt a same movement in my lower left abdomen, at the same time the other movement continued! It felt more like tickling than anything. It's so reassuring to feel these little movements. I can't wait for the baby to be big enough that Cam can start feeling them.

Cam went to a Father's Class at the hospital on the weekend. They told him that in a few weeks we can shine a flashlight on my belly and watch the baby go for the light - just like Scarlet and the laser pointer!! Hee hee that sounds like fun!

1st Ultrasound

We had an ultrasound yesterday. The technician did 2D and 3D ultrasound, but we only got to keep the 3D stuff. Too bad, because we got a lot of images that were really good on the 2D - baby's little spine, foot, hand, etc. He or she is a punchy little baby - feet and arms kicking and wiggling - I still don't feel those movements, just when there is a big belly roll. Seeing those images really brought me home - I'm going to be a Mommy! I was so excited I was shaking!

First Time Feeling the Baby Move

Well, yesterday was certainly exciting! Cam and I were driving home from a camping trip, when I felt the baby move! I was driving, and taking an exit from one highway to the next, so I had to concentrate on traffic, etc., but all I wanted to do was point and show Cam exactly where I was feeling it! It felt like someone was tightening my seatbelt, but from the inside (LOTS of pressure). On Tuesday we go to the ultrasound clinic, so maybe will have a better understanding of whether that was little feet or hands or whatever I was feeling. Today I am going to go visit my friend Anne and hopefully together we will go shopping for maternity clothes - she is expecting her 2nd in August.

So it is time to invest in some maternity clothes, especially maternity pants/skirts. I have had to make the official switch from blue broccoli-bunch rubber bands to skimpy (but stretchier) newspaper bundle rubber bands to keep my pants together. The line has been drawn. Waist is 33.5".

18-week Belly

Wooooooo we are having a heat wave in Calgary!! It has been warmer than 30°C for the last 2 days. My feet are HUGE! The warmer I get, the further my belly sticks out! I did some gardening yesterday after work and then sat in the hammock & read my book for nearly an hour. That was nice!

Our trip to Regina was wonderful, I really enjoyed flying instead of the usual 8 to 9 hour drive. It was so much fun spending time with my parents and visiting my grandparents and having dinner with my sister and her boyfriend. Sometimes it feels like we live in isolation out here - so it was really nice to be with FAMILY.

Baby's Heartbeat - Dani

Now I am at 134 lbs! My tummy measures 33" around the biggest part, which is just below my belly button. There is a definite "bump" now, it reminds me a bit of a beer gut. Right now it is a private bump, because it's only really visible if wearing a tight-fitting shirt.

Hearing the baby's heartbeat was so exciting. I was worried that we wouldn't be able to find it. After a few seconds of static, the sound came through loud and clear! I was so happy to hear a healthy heartbeat (and ONLY ONE heartbeat!) The doctor let Cam use the Doppler on my belly, trying to see if the heartbeat would change or get louder, etc. It was so much fun watching Cam's grin get wider when the numbers jumped even a little.

The doctor gave us a requisition for an ultrasound - we will be going on May 23rd. There are all kinds of instructions on the back, about how much I will have to drink, etc. I think I will probably take the day off just to make things more simple.

Baby's Heartbeat - Cam

(Posted by Cam) Today Dani and I listened to the baby's heartbeat - 150-151 beats per minute. Very exciting.

Pedal faster, Barbie!

Friday was my first day of spinning (cycling) in 2 weeks. It is great that the class instructor is back, however I feel rather large atop the bike, in my skinny bike shorts and slim cycling shirt. There were some new girls in the class, barbie-doll types. I found considerable comfort in the fact that I could still pedal faster and harder than they could.

I start my yoga classes next week. I decided to drop one cycling class in favor of a yoga class. It is something that I've always wanted to try, and now that I will be soon losing access to the company gym, I figured I should do it before I leave in October. Additionally, a lot of my baby books recommend yoga for expecting mothers as the breathing and stretching is really good training for labour (seriously!). I think the meditation part will be good too, for later when the baby is crying all the time. :)

On Monday I have a doctor's appointment in the afternoon. The doctor will do all the regular monthly checkup stuff, weight, bloodpressure, palpitation, etc. Also, he will set up a Doppler machine which will allow the baby's heartbeat to be heard. Cameron is coming too - I checked with the doctor's office and they are happy to have Cam accompany me on my appointment. In fact, they seemed happy to be able to meet him! The receptionist/nurse there is really sweet - she is the doctor's wife too. For as long as I have been going there, every time I leave she always tells me that she thinks that I am "so cute".

Unofficial weigh-in at the gym on Friday was 133 lbs (last month I was 131 lbs at the doctor's office). This puts me at a total 5 lbs gained. Most pregnant women have gained 8-12 lbs by now, according to the books I have, however there is a big caveat on your frame size, activity level, metabolism & what kind of foods you are eating.

Waist now measures 32" (33" after dinner!). Clothes that I can still button up: one pair of grey flannel pants and one pair of brown pinstripe pants and a black skirt for work. Casual clothes: my stretchy, lower-waisted jeans, sweat pants & my exercise clothes (stretchy stretchy!). All other pants must be secured with a blue broccoli-bunch elastic band from button hole to button, and paired with a long top in order to conceal the rubber band.

Shorter tops now have a tendancy to creep up, so a big "thank you" to my cousin Jocelyn who, for Christmas, gave me a lovely green long sleeve tee which is quite long waisted! A big "thank you" goes to my friend Anne too. Anne is expecting as well (due in August), and received a pile of mat. clothes from a coworker - some are too short for her, so she is passing them on to me - very nice!